CIGARETTE USE DOWN BUT STILL BIGGEST KILLER

The image of Australians as heavy boozers and smokers is fading, with
declines in cigarette and alcohol consumption according to a new report.

In an international ranking of cigarette consumption, Australia
dropped from 10th highest to 17th (in the decade to 1996) out of 40
nations, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

On average Australians each consumed a little more than 2000
cigarettes a year in 1996 compared with Greeks who topped the scale
(3400) and Egyptians who smoked the least (1200). In 1986, Australian
consumption was 2710.

Alcohol consumption had also been gradually declining, dropping from a
peak in 1981, largely because of decreased beer drinking. Measured as
litres of pure alcohol, an average of 9.7 litres of beer were consumed
in 1981; 7.6 litres in 1997. Consumption of wine had increased since
1981, up from an average of 14.5 litres a year to 17.3.

Australia came 20th in a 50-nation alcohol consumption ranking. People
from Luxembourg consumed the most, at 11.8 litres of pure alcohol a
year, and Thais the least, at 0.7 litres year.

Eight per cent of men and 4 per cent of women were using alcohol at
harmful levels.

Tobacco remained the biggest killer, responsible for 80 per cent of
drug-related deaths. Of the 23,000 deaths attributed to drug abuse in
1997, 18,224 were tobacco-related, 3668 alcohol-related, and 823
related to the use of illicit drugs. In 1996-97, 257,000 hospital
visits were attributed to drug use, with almost 60 per cent due to
tobacco use, 37 per cent for alcohol-related illness, and 4 per cent
due to illicit drug use.

The Commonwealth made $4 billion in 1997-98 from tobacco excise. The
most recent figures on the direct health care costs of smoking come
from 1992, and totalled $833 million.

Support for anti-smoking measures was strong, with 90 per cent in
favour of stricter enforcement of the ban on sales to under-18s and
about 80 per cent in support of smoking bans at work, restaurants and
shopping centres.

Almost half the Australian population over 14 years had used at least
one illicit drug at some time, with marijuana the most frequently
used. Forty-eight per cent of men had used cannabis at some time and
41 per cent of women. The use of amphetamines had doubled between 1995
and 1998, with 4 per cent of people reporting use in the previous
year. Drug use for all other substances remained relatively unchanged.
One per cent of men reported having ever injected drugs, and 0.5 per
cent of women.

Perceptions of drug use were also monitored, with 25 per cent of women
classifying alcohol abuse as of most concern and 27 per cent men
ranking heroin use the biggest community worry. This refected a big
jump in concern about heroin, which in 1993 and 1995 had been ranked
the biggest concern by only 10 per cent of all respondents.

The AIHW produces a drug use report every two years, and draws
information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, health
authorities, and the Federal Office of Road Safety.